Manila: The Philippine Fleet (PF) concluded on Monday its annual unilateral exercise designed to enhance the combat skills of its air and naval units. In a statement Tuesday, the PF announced that this year's iteration of Exercise "Pagbubuklod" focused on four key dimensions of naval warfare: anti-surface warfare, anti-subsurface warfare, anti-air warfare, and electronic warfare.

According to Philippines News Agency, the exercise was conducted in two phases: the in-port/harbor phase and the field training/at-sea phase. The exercise involved mission planning, capability preparation, and hands-on execution. Coordinated drills, simulated combat scenarios, and subject matter expert exchanges allowed participants to test and validate operational doctrines, tactics, and procedures across multidimensional fleet operations.

Approximately 1,000 personnel, including reservists, participated in the exercise. The exercise was supported by 12 Philippine Navy (PN) ships, three air assets from the Naval Air Warfare Force, two FA-50PH aircraft from the Philippine Air Force, and additional deployments from higher headquarters. The PF stated that these combined capabilities enabled comprehensive coverage and ensured realistic training across the four naval warfare domains.

"Pagbubuklod," which commenced on November 17, underscored deliberate planning, enhanced joint-force interoperability, and seamless coordination among PF units along with other components of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and PN. The exercise also incorporated locally supported assets, consistent with the AFP's Self-Reliant Defense Posture.

The PF highlighted that this year's exercise was conducted in full alignment with the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept, which emphasizes synchronized and layered defense across the nation's maritime domain.